Snap-in frame for an organizer component system

ABSTRACT

A snap-in frame arrangement for an organizer component system is disclosed. At least one of a locking nib is disposed within an organizer/component image receiving area of the organizer system. The locking nib has an under-cut to aid in the removal of a snap-in frame from an organizer/component image receiving area by allowing the use of a finger tip or finger nail to catch the edge of the snap-in frame and lift it out. During the lifting out process the snap-in frame bends (flexes) slightly around each locking nib and allows the snap-in frame to be removed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The technology described herein relates generally to a way to hold inplace a graphic or photo inside a correspondingly dimensioned recess,and in particular to a snap-in frame arrangement that is used in, butnot limited to, an organizer component system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need to have a simple way of securing an image, photo,graphic or other embodiments, or a combination thereof, into the pocketon a display or apparatus of an organizer component system that issimple to install and remove for changing out the graphics.

The snap-in frame arrangement according to embodiments of the inventionsubstantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of theprior art. It can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need fora new and improved snap-in frame arrangement which can be usedcommercially. In this regard, the technology described hereinsubstantially fulfills these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A snap-in frame arrangement for an organizer component system isdescribed herein. At least one of a locking nib is disposed within anorganizer/component image receiving area of the organizer system. Thelocking nib has an under-cut to aid in the removal of a snap-in framefrom an organizer/component image receiving area by allowing the use ofa finger tip or finger nail to catch the edge of the snap-in frame andlift it out and over the locking nib. During the lifting out process thesnap-in frame bends (flexes) slightly around a locking nib and allowsthe snap-in frame to be removed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The technology described herein, together with further advantagesthereof, may best be understood by reference to the followingdescription of the simplest form of the invention, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of how a Snap-in Frame is used tohold a photo/image and a photo/image mat in a component receiving areaof an organizing apparatus (blown-up view) shown in accordance with thetechnology described herein;

FIG. 2 illustrates a Photo/Image Mat component for use in accordancewith the technology described herein;

FIG. 3 illustrates a Photo/Image Template, e.g., a 0.005 inch die cutpolyester film that is used to trace on an image to enable the user tocut an image to the appropriate size for use in accordance with thetechnology described herein. The Photo/Image Template may also be usedas a photo protecting film to be placed on top of the photo inside thecomponent/image receiving area;

FIG. 4 illustrates the Photo/Image cut to fit the component/imagereceiving area, for use in accordance with the technology describedherein;

FIG. 5 illustrates a Snap-in Frame, for use in accordance with thetechnology described herein;

FIG. 6 illustrates the Snap-in Frame on top of the photo Image Mat,which is on top of the Image and all are placed within the ComponentReceiving Area for use in accordance with the technology describedherein;

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the Snap-in Frame in the organizingapparatus. The Snap-in Frame is being held in place by the Locking Nib.The Snap in frame is in the Component Receiving Area, for use inaccordance with the technology described herein;

FIG. 8 illustrates a partial front view of the Snap-in Frame in theorganizing apparatus. The Snap-in Frame is being held in place by theLocking Nib. The Snap-in Frame is in the Component Receiving Area, foruse in accordance with the technology described herein;

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of the Snap-in Frame in the organizingapparatus. The Snap-in Frame is being held in place by the Locking Nib.The Snap in frame is in the Component Receiving Area, for use inaccordance with the technology described herein;

FIG. 10 illustrates a partial front view of the Snap-in Frame in theorganizing apparatus. The Snap-in Frame is being held in place by theLocking Nib. The Snap-in Frame is in the Component Receiving Area, foruse in accordance with the technology described herein;

FIG. 11 illustrates a front view of the Snap-in Frame for use inaccordance with the technology described herein;

FIG. 12 illustrates a section view of the Snap-in Frame for use inaccordance with the technology described herein;

FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the Snap-in Frame for use inaccordance with the technology described herein;

FIG. 14 illustrates a section view of the Snap-in Frame and theorganizing apparatus. The Snap-in Frame is being held in place by theLocking Nib. The Snap-in Frame is in the Component Receiving Area, foruse in accordance with the technology described herein;

FIG. 15 illustrates a partial section view of the Snap-in Frame, and theorganizing apparatus. The Snap-in Frame is being held in place by theLocking Nib. The Snap-in Frame is in the Component Receiving Area, foruse in accordance with the technology described herein;

FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 illustrate an organizing system utilizing thetechnology described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The technology described herein will now be described in detail withreference to at least one preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the technology described herein. It will be apparent,however, to one skilled in the art, that the technology described hereinmay be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In otherinstances, well known operations have not been described in detail sonot to unnecessarily obscure the technology described herein.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-15, where like reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, referenceis made first to FIG. 1 that illustrates a typical configuration of thetechnology described herein.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of how a Snap-in Frame 14releaseably holds a photo/image 16 and a photo/image mat 1190 in acomponent receiving area 130 of an organizing apparatus 110 (blown-upview), by utilizing a Locking Nib 122.

FIG. 2 illustrates Photo/Image Mat component 1190.

FIG. 3 illustrates a Photo/Image Template 17, e.g., a 0.005 inch die cutpolyester film that is used as a template to trace on an image to enablethe user to cut an image to the appropriate size. The Photo/ImageTemplate 17 may also be used as a photo protecting film to be placed ontop of the photo inside the component/image receiving area.

FIG. 4 illustrates a Photo/Image 16 cut to fit the component/imagereceiving area 130.

FIG. 5 illustrates a Snap-in Frame 14.

FIG. 6 illustrates the Snap-in Frame 14 on top of the photo Image Mat1190, which is on top of the Image 16 and all are placed within theComponent Receiving Area utilizing the Locking Nib 122.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the Snap-in Frame in the organizingapparatus. The Snap-in Frame is being held in place by the Locking Nib.The Snap-in Frame is in the Component Receiving Area.

FIG. 8 illustrates a partial front view of the Snap-in Frame 14 in theorganizing apparatus 110. The Snap-in Frame 14 is being held in place bythe Locking Nib 122. The Snap-in Frame 14 is in the Component ReceivingArea, along with the Image 16.

FIG. 9 illustrates a front view of the Snap-in Frame in the organizingapparatus. The Snap-in Frame is being held in place by the Locking Nib.The Snap-in Frame is in the Component Receiving Area.

FIG. 10 illustrates a partial front view of the Snap-in Frame 14 in theorganizing apparatus 110. The Snap-in Frame 14 is being held in place bythe Locking Nib 122. The Snap-in Frame 14 is in the Component ReceivingArea, as well as the Image 16.

FIG. 11 illustrates a front view of the Snap-in Frame 14. In addition tothe profile of the Snap-in Frame 14 illustrated in FIG. 11, other shapedprofiles within the pocket also work.

FIG. 12 illustrates a section view of the Snap-in Frame 14.

FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of the Snap-in Frame 14.

FIG. 14 illustrates a section view of the Snap-in Frame and theorganizing apparatus. The Snap-in Frame is being held in place by theLocking Nib. The Snap-in Frame is in the Component Receiving Area, aswell as the Image 16.

FIG. 15 illustrates a partial section view of the Snap-in Frame 14, andthe organizing apparatus 110. The Snap-in Frame 14 is being held inplace by the Locking Nib 122. The Snap-in Frame 14 is in the ComponentReceiving Area 130.

FIG. 16 illustrates an organizing system 010 where only photos and/orimages are inserted.

FIG. 17 illustrates an organizing system 010 where both photos and/orimages are inserted, as well as other accessories are inserted.

The section of the Snap-In Frame 14 has an under-cut to aid in theremoval of the frame by allowing the consumer to use their finger tip orfinger nail to catch the edge of the Snap-in Frame 14 and lift it out.While the Snap-in Frame 14 is being lifted out of the Component/ImageReceiving Area 130, it bends (flexes) slightly around the locking nib122, and allows the Snap-in Frame 14 to be removed.

In one embodiment the technology described herein could fit into thepocket and wrap outside the cavity 140 onto the Component/Imagereceiving section 120 of the apparatus. This embodiment can be in theshape of the pocket using different colors, with different graphicpatterns, as long as the friction on the cavity is maintained, or wherea portion of the Snap-in Frame 14 is positioned beneath the locking nib.

In one embodiment a snap-in frame assembly comprises an organizingapparatus, formed to fit on a computer monitor, having at least one of acomponent receiving section; at least one of a cavity disposed withineach component receiving section, each cavity having a componentreceiving area, each component receiving area having at least one of alocking nib disposed thereon; and at least one of a snap-in frame, wherethe snap-in frame is insertable into the component receiving area andheld in place by the locking nib.

In another embodiment a snap-in frame assembly comprises an organizingapparatus having at least one of a component receiving section; at leastone of a cavity disposed within each component receiving section, eachcavity having a component receiving area, each component receiving areahaving at least one of a locking nib disposed thereon; and at least oneof a snap-in frame, where the snap-in frame is insertable into thecomponent receiving area and held in place by the locking nib and eachlocking nib has an under-cut.

In another embodiment a snap-in frame assembly comprises an organizingapparatus having at least one of a component receiving section; at leastone of a cavity disposed within each component receiving section, eachcavity having a component receiving area, each component receiving areahaving at least one of a locking nib disposed thereon; at least one of asnap-in frame; and a photo/image mat component, where the snap-in frameis insertable into the component receiving area and held in place by thelocking nib and each locking nib has an under-cut.

In another embodiment a snap-in frame assembly comprises an organizingapparatus having at least one of a component receiving section; at leastone of a cavity disposed within each component receiving section, eachcavity having a component receiving area, each component receiving areahaving at least one of a locking nib disposed thereon; at least one of asnap-in frame; a photo/image mat component; and an image, where thesnap-in frame is insertable into the component receiving area and heldin place by the locking nib and each locking nib has an under-cut, theimage is positioned within the component receiving area, the photo/imagemat is positioned over the image, and the snap-in frame is positionedover the photo/image mat. A film may be placed over the image or photo.The cavities may be rectangular or non-rectangular in shape. Thecavities may hold photos, images, or accessories for holding personaland/or business related items.

In one embodiment of the technology described herein installation is asfollows:

-   -   first insert a photo/image into a component receiving area 130    -   then insert a Snap-in Frame 14

For manufacturing of this system there are several thermal formingprocesses that may be used as well as several plastics or rubbers may beused to form this accessory. The preferred method of manufacturing ofthis accessory is plastic injection molding and the preferred materialis ABS plastic.

Images or photos are installed into an organizing apparatus, 110, asfollows:

1. Align the image template over the photo or image that you want inyour Organizing Apparatus 110.

2. Carefully trace around the template with an appropriate markinginstrument.

3. Cut out the image with scissors

4. Place the image into a component receiving area 130 on the OrganizingApparatus 110

5. Ensure that the image is not binding in the component receiving area130; the image must lay flat; if the image is binding, trim off theedges of the image that are keeping it from laying flat

6. Insert the image

7. Insert the Snap-in Frame into the component receiving area 130 tohold the image into place

8. Repeat this step for all the component receiving areas 130 until alldesired images have been inserted.

Below is a table of the reference numbers pertaining to the technologydescribed herein.

Reference Number Reference Name 14 Snap-in Frame 16 Image 17 ImageTemplate 110 Organizing Apparatus 120 Component Receiving Section 122Locking Nib 130 Component Receiving Area 140 Cavity 1190 Photo/Image MatComponent

The foregoing description and drawings comprise illustrative embodimentsof the technology described herein. Having thus described exemplaryembodiments of the technology described herein, it should be noted bythose skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only,and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications maybe made within the scope of the technology described herein. Merelylisting or numbering the steps of a method in a certain order does notconstitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Manymodifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mindto one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having thebenefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and theassociated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed herein,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. Accordingly, the technology described herein isnot limited to the specific embodiments illustrated herein, but islimited only by the following claims.

1. A snap-in frame assembly comprising: a. an organizing apparatushaving at least one of a component receiving section; b. at least one ofa cavity disposed within each component receiving section, each cavityhaving a component receiving area, each component receiving area havingat least one of a locking nib disposed thereon; and c. at least one of asnap-in frame, wherein the snap-in frame is insertable into thecomponent receiving area and held in place by the locking nib.
 2. Thesnap-in frame assembly of claim 1, wherein each locking nib has anunder-cut.
 3. The snap-in frame assembly of claim 2, further comprisinga photo/image mat component.
 4. The snap-in frame assembly of claim 3,further comprising an image.
 5. The snap-in frame assembly of claim 4,wherein the image is positioned within the component receiving area, thephoto/image mat is positioned over the image, and the snap-in frame ispositioned over the photo/image mat.
 6. The snap-in frame assembly ofclaim 2, further comprising a film.
 7. The snap-in frame assembly ofclaim 6, further comprising a photo/image mat component.
 8. The snap-inframe assembly of claim 7, further comprising an image.
 9. The snap-inframe assembly of claim 8, wherein the image is positioned within thecomponent receiving area, the film is positioned over the image, thephoto/image mat is positioned over the film, and the snap-in frame ispositioned over the photo/image mat.
 10. The snap-in frame assembly ofclaim 2, wherein each cavity is rectangular in shape.
 11. The snap-inframe assembly of claim 1, wherein each cavity has a photo/image mat.12. The snap-in frame assembly of claim 6, wherein each cavity isrectangular in shape.
 13. The snap-in frame assembly of claim 1, whereinthe organizing apparatus fits securely to a computer monitor.
 14. Thesnap-in frame assembly of claim 5, wherein the organizing apparatus fitssecurely to a computer monitor.
 15. The snap-in frame assembly of claim9, wherein the organizing apparatus fits securely to a computer monitor.